Barcelona Reportedly Feel It Will Take €60m to Seal Frenkie de Jong Transfer
Barcelona are reportedly stepping up their pursuit of Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong and believe it could take a bid as high as €60 million (£54 million) to sign him.
Per Mundo Deportivo (h/t Goal), Barca are concerned about interest in the 21-year-old from Tottenham Hotspur and Pairs Saint-Germain, and although they will not be able to sign him until next summer they are eager to ensure they are not caught out.
The Blaugrana had hoped to sign De Jong last month, but Ajax's successful qualification for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League scuppered that plan, per Juan Manuel Diaz of Sport.
He will now remain with the Eredivisie giants until at least next summer, leaving Barcelona vulnerable to potential competitors for his signature.
PSG are likely the main concern for Barca given their incredible financial clout.
If De Jong continues to impress this season, especially on the European stage, Ajax are only likely to increase their demands for him, especially as he still has a contract to 2022.
De Jong can play as a centre-back, but his best position is as a defensive midfielder, and Barca could view him as a long-term successor for Sergio Busquets.
The ideal scenario for the Camp Nou giants would be to agree a deal which guarantees them the opportunity to sign him next summer.
They would then not have to worry about competing bids from PSG, Spurs and any other interested parties that might emerge during the season.
